Chapter 10: The Worlds of Christendom

In chapter 10, there was an extreme focus on religion. It was when Christianity began to spread to many areas. Such as Egypt, where Christianity became a main religious belief. It was practiced daily amor the people, but when the people were being threatened by invaders, they decided to change religions to keep themselves safe. They changed to Islamic beliefs, after much destruction was caused due to the Christian beliefs. Although, there were many Christians who refused to change religions and so they moved away to new land to continue to practice their religion without danger.

This whole separation of religion continues to happen today. Its very unfair to have so much anger for people hat do no believe in the same religious beliefs as you do. Religion is something that should not get in the way of the people. Not everyone will have the same religion and we need to understand to accept that. You cannot for anyone to believe in something they truly do not wish to. People today, in our society need to learn to accept each other. A religious belief should not be an obstacle in the way of becoming friends with anyone. Religion is something personal to each individual, its something that should not be messed with. You cannot bring down a person because of their religious beliefs.

Chapter 8: China and the World

In this chapter, it is discussed the successes of China's powerful government. China influenced the world, but also changed with its many interactions with non-chinese people. They influenced their ideas to other civilizations, which they improved and made their own. China regained it unity under the Sui Dynasty. With the vast expansion of the country's canal system, connected North and South China. The canal stretched 1,200 miles in length. With China's uprising, there established arts, literature, paintings and so much more! They also came to an examination system, which gave the ability to print books for the first time in world history. Young men prepared for exams which was essential. These exams gave ability to higher positions, keeping in mind that cheating was completely off limits. Official positions went to sons of privileged, even if they had not passed the exams. It was very important for men to pass these exams. They pretty much determined there future.

Women in the Song Dynasty were separated from men. They were often viewed as a distraction. The remarriage of widows, though legally permissible, was increasingly condemned. They were only able to receive education that had to do with how to properly teach their children, especially boys. This made sure that their boys had a better understanding on how to become a man before staring school. Foot binding was later spread within the Chinese society. It consisted of tight wrapping of young girls feet, usually breaking the bones of the foot and causing intense pain. This associated a new image for female beauty. Also, it served to distinguish Chinese women from the "barbarian" counterparts and elite women from the commoners and peasants.

Intro to Part Three and Chapter 7

This chapter discussed the ways in which civilizations became to connect with one another. Trade became a huge part of the societies. Three different types of trade routes are discussed in this chapter. Such being, Silk roads, Sea road, and Sand road. The Silk road was a very interactive and popular trade route. It started with indirect trade between agricultural people and pastoral people in Eurasia. The Silk road was very important in Eurasia because many luxuries were traded, such as spices, silk, tea, dine china, fabric, etc. The way that the silk road worked was that there were multiple paths. Though, no path was actually paved. In the roads there were posts, like stops, were travelers would trade with people at the posts. Saving them time from reaching the other end of the road. This way products moved quickly. People took smaller distances based on what they could support. Still being able to receive goods from the other side. Products also marked up along the way. Because of this type of trading system, philosophy, culture and religion were able to move across the road. 

Another trading system was the Sea roads. This made it possible to exchange across the Indian Ocean. Although, there was no one specific road. Since it was at sea, there were different directions to get to the same place, or other places. The majority of people who consumed goods from this trading system were shopkeepers and merchants, and the middle class. This type of trading made it possible to trade larger amounts of goods, such as spices, tea, textiles etc. People were also transported through boats and ships. It is not the best system, because it was dangerous. People never really knew who was on the sea ready to attack and take there goods. There was no protection. It also was the method of transporting diseases, like smallpox, measles, and bubonic plague. 

Last but not least, there was the Sand road. The Sand roads helped exchange across the Sahara, which began among agricultural people. When using the Sand road, usually camels were used to carry a variety of goods. The types of things traded were copper, silver, gold, metals, textiles, salt, dates, and coffee grain. Also, slaves, music and instruments, language, and disease were traded among the sand road. The people who most consumed from this trading system were, landowners and wealthy, merchant workers, and religious leaders.

Chapter 6 (Classical Era Variations)

In this chapter there are several discussed civilizations and the ways that they lived. I was intrigued by the Andes. This civilization was located in the Andes mountains which gave them a variation of resources. The Andean societies generally sought access to the resources of various environments such as colonization, conquest, or trade. They were able to have seafood from the coastal regions, maize and cotton from lower-altitude valleys, potatoes, quinoa, and pasture land for their llamas in the high plains, tropical fruits and cocoa leaf. This was only a small variations of resources they were able to get their hands on.
A village called Chavín de Huántar became the focus of a religious movements that soon swept through both coastal and highland Peru. Using religion helped them trade with others. They were also very focused on artwork, which was based off the work of the people and the religion. It was very interesting to me how the leaders basically drugged themselves and began to performed ancient rituals and made human sacrifices. Its amazing how even during this time people seemed to be using drugs for some time of "good." It is indeed satisfying that it is something that has changed . Now people, for the most part, have their freedom to choose any religion they would like to follow. Also, the leaders were symbolized with vicious animals to represent their strength and power to rule.

Intro to Part Two and Chapter 3 (State and Empire): Week 5

When the first civilizations broke down, new civilizations began to form quickly. Some of them represented the persistence or renewal of older patterns. They were not very much different than the first. The globalization of civilization continued to grow, as well as the interaction within one another. Such as, gathering and hunting peoples, agricultural village societies, and pastoral communities. The structure of states and empires also began to grow. The rise and fall of these empires represented changes to the people who experienced them. For the most part each civilization was separated from each other. As each established its own political system, cultural values, and ways of organizing society. Although, the Persian Empire and Greek civilization experienced a centuries-long interaction and clash. It was one of the most consequential cultural encounters of the ancient world. There later became much conflict with each other a lot over control.

Chapter 2 (Documents): Week 4

Document 2.3

The Afterlife of a Pharaoh

How is the afterlife of the pharaoh represented in this text?

A common Egyptian way of understanding these fundamental human concerns is with so-called Pyramid texts.  Teti, the pharaoh, is represented as encouragement for him to approach his afterlife. Reminding him of his power that has not fallen. People are waiting with their arms open to receive him. He continues to be king in his afterlife, it is reminder for him to approach. Also, where he meets again with his father, Geb. Who is delighted with joy to recieve his son. It seems that his life won't change to much since he will basically continue to be worshiped upon. Just now he will be with his father, whom worships him to

Chapter 1 (First Farmers), Agriculture and Nissa's Story: Week 2

Agriculture began to change very quickly, it was almost adapting to the people. Corn started growing bigger, and people started to settle in different areas. Which also became a bit of an issue because new feelings were being adapted though ancestral traditions were being forgotten. Climate was changing as well, which caused crops to vary, being that animals and crops were key to survival. With the migration of people, cultures and languages became interfere. Improvements in housing became a big move. In response to housing, towns and villages were modernizing. Everything was almost combining together and changing making things much more simple.

I believe that Nissa's people were into their traditions that they really didn't think outside of the box. Everything was pretty much done within the tribe. They believed that the make was to hunt for food and bring it back to their wife/family. Feelings were something people didn't really know or understand much about. Nissan's tribe was more about living and reproducing. Everybody seemed respectful until " affairs" began to be a thing. Even then, it was normal for them because they didn't worry about feelings. All they had  to worry about was making sure that they had a variety of food and goods. Which is the reason Nissa decided to sleep with so many men after her husband had died.

Chapter 2 (First Civilizations): Week 3

There was the start if new civilizations in where people began developing new ways of living. People
started to spread into at first three places: Middle Eastern civilization, Sumerian civilization, and the Egyptian civilization. Many more civilizations became to develop after. These civilizations came to change peoples lives as for almost new cultures. Symbols were being used to identify things using animals and statues. The Indus civilization was one to bring that culture. Another example is, the Xia dynasty, whose legendary monarch Wu organized flood control to flow in great channels.  Many civilizations began to develop quickly as people migrated around the globe. Depending on where you were common developments were more effective systems to bring water to the cities, ways to communicate such as language, and people started to become to have some sort of "free time". Working all the time wasn't necessary do to the new systems people could do less important things. The beginning of civilizations created a massive change to people. It seemed that they were able to develop quickly because when people migrated they shared their lifestyle within their new homeland.